Guyana/Barbados trade platform to drive regional shipping vision – President Ali

Guyana is working with Barbados to create a seamless trade and transport platform that could become a model for regional integration, President Irfaan Ali announced during the Shipping Association of Guyana’s networking and business mixer on Tuesday night.

“We want to lead with Barbados to set an example for the rest of the region, in which we have pre-clearance between Barbados and Guyana,” President Ali revealed.

He explained that this would entail a common transport platform integrating the markets of Guyana and Barbados. In essence, clearance for shipping will only be done once, either in Guyana or Barbados.

“So when you clear at one end, you pick up at the other end,” President Ali said.

This push for greater ease of trade and removal of regional barriers is essential to improving Guyana’s competitiveness, President Ali said.

“We are hoping to work with all countries who are ready to move forward with us on this,” the Head of State said.

Locally, to support this vision, a robust investment in port modernisation is already underway. The President pointed to the growing port developments on the West Bank of the Demerara River, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and in Charity on the Essequibo Coast. Two modern ports with cold storage facilities are being developed in Parika and Charity. These facilities will support export to Caribbean markets.

In Region One, the government has already acquired a new ocean-going ferry from Greece to meet growing demands in production of agricultural products.

“We have opportunities in regional shipping [with] great potential in connecting Regions One and Two more directly to Caribbean markets,” President Ali said.

Port Kaituma in Region One is also being positioned as a regional shipping hub, with plans to modernise its wharf. Meanwhile, the Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown, Stabroek waterfronts will be transformed into vibrant spaces for entertainment, commerce, and marina-style cruise activities.

On Tuesday, President Ali also revealed that the government is currently working with the United States to strengthen Guyana’s port security system, making it internationally trusted and compliant with modern regulatory frameworks.
“The international market needs to trust our ports, and we have to invest in the security system supported by modern regulatory legislation,” the President stated.